Death Penalty Cases Transferred Over Conflicts | Phoenix News

A Pinal County judge has shut down the local prosecutor’s office and court system for two high-profile death penalty cases, citing a web of conflicts of interest that erode public trust. The cases involve Rodney Ortiz and Alec Xavier Perez, accused of killing four people in 2017. At the heart of the ruling is former defense attorney Matthew Long, who represented Perez for seven years without proper co-counsel for capital cases — a violation of ethical standards. Compounding the issue are ongoing civil lawsuits involving Long and the county, creating an appearance of bias that the judge deemed unacceptable. Rather than proving misconduct, the judge prioritized preserving the integrity of justice by ordering a new prosecutor’s office and an out-of-county judge to handle the cases. The county attorney’s office is challenging the decision, requesting a stay and appealing to the Arizona Court of Appeals, with a hearing set for August 20th. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/bc554cefcb6faf96